Virginia Western Community College and Bluefield State College Sign Articulation Agreement for Business Programs

In addition to guaranteed admission, high-achieving transfer students will receive in-state tuition

Virginia Western Community College and Bluefield State College signed an articulation agreement today that will result in a seamless and cost-effective transition between the two institutions for students majoring in business programs.

Virginia Western students completing their Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S) degrees in accounting and business management, and in business management with specializations in human resource management or marketing; or their Associate of Science (A.S.) in business administration will be guaranteed admission in those Bachelor of Science (B.S.) programs at Bluefield State's W. Paul Cole Jr. School of Business. Pictured (left-to-right) during the signing ceremony are Jim Poythress, Dean of Business, Engineering and Technology/Virginia Western; Dr. Elizabeth Wilmer, Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs/VWCC; Dr. Robert Sandel, President, VWCC, Dr. Tom Blevins, President/Bluefield State College, Dr. Lewis Jones, Provost/BSC, and Dr. Steve Bourne, Dean of the W. Paul Cole Jr. School of Business/BSC.

ROANOKE — Virginia Western Community College and Bluefield State College signed an articulation agreement today that will result in a seamless and cost-effective transition between the two institutions for students majoring in business programs.

Virginia Western students completing their Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S) degrees in accounting and business management, and in business management with specializations in human resource management or marketing; or their Associate of Science (A.S.) in business administration will be guaranteed admission in those Bachelor of Science (B.S.) programs at Bluefield State's W. Paul Cole Jr. School of Business. As part of the agreement, Bluefield State will offer scholarships for Virginia Western students earning a 3.0 grade-point average so they will be able to attend the West Virginia college at the in-state tuition rate.

"This agreement is a natural fit because it brings together two colleges that hold accreditations by the Council for Business Schools and Programs, providing students a clear route to careers in business," said Dr. Robert H. Sandel, president of Virginia Western. "Bluefield State's close proximity to our region and the possibility of in-state tuition means we will continue to provide affordability and accessibility to higher education for our students."

Bluefield State has also established a Metro tuition and fees rate for students from nearby locations in Virginia. Virginia Western graduates will be eligible for this reduced tuition as long as the meet program admission guidelines and earn a 2.0-2.99 grade-point average.

In addition to classroom instruction, Bluefield State offers numerous online classes with livestreaming. Students can see everything the professor does in class, including the use of multiple advance technologies. This will allow Virginia Western graduates to overcome some the challenges related to the colleges' distance from each other.

"Because West Virginia now has an active community college system, it is incumbent upon baccalaureate colleges to make reciprocity agreements with local community colleges and to expand their outreach," said Dr. Tom Blevins, president of Bluefield State. "We are very happy with the efforts of Dr. Steve Bourne (Dean of the W. Paul Cole, Jr. School of Business) and we believe that this agreement with Virginia Western Community College is the beginning of an excellent relationship."

ABOUT VIRGINIA WESTERN COMMUNITY COLLEGE

With more than 13,000 students on the college's main campus in Southwest Roanoke City, to our satellite locations at the Roanoke Higher Education Center in Downtown Roanoke, Greenfield Education & Training Center in Daleville, and the Franklin Center in Rocky Mount, Virginia Western Community College is committed to providing affordable, accessible, and quality educational opportunities and workforce training to meet individual, community, and global needs. To learn more, visit www.virginiawestern.edu.

ABOUT BLUEFIELD STATE COLLEGE

Bluefield State College provides an affordable, accessible education to a diverse student body. The College features strong, career-focused programs of study that are designed to equip graduates for solid, fulfilling careers. Fourteen different degree programs hold program-specific national accreditation, and the College is nationally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Approximately 2,000 students attend BSC and many utilize the opportunity to take classes through a variety of distance learning modalities. To learn more, visit bluefieldstate.edu.